I can’t shake compulsive habits that are affecting me - What’s happening??

[cfalz]

Hi!

For as long as I can remember I’ve had many ‘compulsive’ habits that I just can’t get rid of.

These include:

• Having to go over words I’ve written in pen dozens of times
• Having to type, backspace, retype words dozens of times
• Having to say words/phrases an even amount of times
• Having to take the same amount of steps in each ‘block’ of pavement
• Changing the volume (TV, radio, etc) dozens of times in a certain order (eg. starting from 10, going to 11, then back to 10, then to 9, then to 10) and always having to end it on an even number
• Chewing food an even amount of times
• Always eating an even amount of food (eating 4 chips, 2 pieces of chocolate, etc)

These really effect me as when I can’t complete these habits I get anxious and feel like there’s a pressure building up inside me. I don’t know why I do this but I really want to find an explanation.

Why do I do this??

[geoff]

hello Cfalz, please let me welcome you to the site.

I know what you have told us is something that I have suffered from myself for 58 years and when my ‘compulsive’ habits first began at a very young age it was so exhausting for me to have to carry them all out.

Firstly I don't want you to worry if some or all of these need to be done, there is nothing wrong with what you are doing, although it's tiring and exhausting for you and may seem to be frustrating it's what's called having OCD.

This requires certain people to need to complete certain habits and/or rituals to make their anxiety feel at ease.

Not everyone who has anxiety has OCD but there is a large number who do, I have it and so do you.

There's much more to talk about but your doctor can prescribe medication which is for people who have OCD, anxiety and depression, it won't completely stop it but it may alleviate the intensity, so please start off with by booking an appointment with your doctor and I hope we can continue this post to try and make you feel more comfortable. Geoff.

[cfalz]

Thank you so much for the response.

I’ve been struggling for many years with these habits, and it makes me very frantic and anxious when I can’t complete them. I’ve been wanting to identify what the source of this issue was, so I’m very grateful for your response explaining this.

I’ll definitely look to discuss this with a professional as it’s really affecting my life.

Again, thank you so much

[demonblaster]

Hi Falz & Geoff

I've seen on TV a couple of times about OCD which would be so frustrating for youse, I do feel for people with this issue.

I don't know much about it, had a friend that had same.

I've mainly come here for support and out of interest to learn more

All the best to both of you 🙂

[cfalz]

Thank you so much for the support 🙂

[demonblaster]

thanks darl you're very welcome, unfortunately I'm not much help with info but yeah support for sure 🙂

This isn't fact it's theory, mine but the more I think about it there could be something in this

I think pretty much all our problems base with the beast ('IT") depression, which seems consistently to interfere with sleep which as we know stuffs us emotionally beyond, it was/is used for torture, it weakens our strength which increases depression. I believe we all strength but gets buried.
Sleep deprivation: I think the body trying to protect & help us brings on adrenalin which if not used causes stress which needs an out or if we can emotionally control it, MAMMOTH, so possibly a lot of our problems branch from stress trying to find outs.
If we can find and address root causes of depression... possibly help alleviate other issues.
Anythings possible

Good luck to you hun

[geoff]

hi Cfalz, for those of us who do have to struggle with OCD, it's so hard to explain to someone who doesn't have it why we have to perform these continual 'habits' because they can't understand why. Geoff.

[demonblaster]

Geoff & Falz hi, imo understanding comes from explaining if the other persons receptive too listening and reason

If you want to I'd like to understand

They say in advertising something like one mouth 1000 ears same applies with anything really
Let's say 20 people listen to what youse say. Maybe 5 might understand but the others heard it.
People talk different subjects with others, so if even 2 of those 20 people tell someone and they tell someone etc

Result even if it's a few more that have understanding potentially more help support and tolerance & yes I know there's horror stories of people's poor reactions. Some people just shouldn't have a voice box

[geoff]

hi Cfalz, how are you going, if you're available hope to hear back from you? Geoff.